Focus on your work before you speak: Bias a woman faces in organizations

You have been analyzing market trends for weeks, brainstorming financial reports, and then developing a brilliant strategy that can help your company achieve massive growth. With excitement and a bit of nervousness, you present your ideas to senior managers.

They look at you with a smile and brush off that strategy with, "Thanks, but you should focus on your work." you prepared by working hard and giving your best day and night.

If this brings back a sense of deja vu to you, then you're not alone. 73% of women reported that their ideas were never even considered in the workplace, compared to just 45% of men, according to a 2023 study by the SPR.

This bias not only hinders innovation but also increases the gender gap in leadership positions.

If you've ever had your well-thought-out ideas dismissed, then this article is just for you. Let's explore this challenge and learn how to overcome it.

The Reality of Gender Politics in Organizations

Women are 1.5 times more likely than men to be labelled as ”under-researched” or "hasty" when advocating for their ideas, according to McKinsey & Company.?

• This bias is just the tip of the iceberg, where only 28% of senior management roles globally are held by women (World Economic Forum).?

• Notably, in countries across Northern Africa, Western Asia, and Central and Southern Asia, the proportion barely reaches 13%—a statistic that has seen little significant change over the past two decades.?

Let’s look at some of the major factors contributing to this gender gap in organizations:

1. Perception Gap

Only 20% of women in leadership roles are seen as "highly competent," compared to 40% of men (Harvard Business Review). This perception disparity often leads to women's ideas being undervalued or dismissed.

2. The Double Standard

Women are held to higher standards in leadership roles (Center for Creative Leadership).

This often results in their ideas being scrutinized more harshly or dismissed if they don't conform to traditional (often male-centric) leadership styles.

3. Communication Challenges

• Women tend to adopt a more collaborative communication style, which can be misinterpreted as indecisiveness in male-dominated environments (Journal of Business Communication).

• This study investigated how female Members of Parliament (MPs) in 24 democracies adjusted their speaking style over time. It found that women tend to adopt a more masculine style as they stay in office, even after controlling for speech topics.

This misinterpretation can lead to strategic ideas being overlooked or undervalued.

The Cost of Dismissing Women's Ideas

1. Lost profitability

• A survey of 21,980 publicly traded companies across 91 countries demonstrated that having more female leaders in top corporate management positions correlates with increased profitability for these companies.

• McKinsey & Company reported that companies with gender-diverse executive teams were 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability.

By dismissing women's strategic ideas, companies are potentially leaving money on the table.

2. Lack of Inclusion

• Most women believe that a lack of inclusion affects their ability to contribute ideas and succeed in their careers (Deloitte).

• Women with higher inclusion scores are 2.2 times more likely to recommend their employer as a good place to work and 1.2 times less likely to change employers.

This sentiment can lead to disengagement and the loss of valuable talent.

3. Career stagnation

• Women are 24% less likely than men to receive a promotion after expressing interest in a leadership role (LeanIn.org).

• The “Women in the Workplace” study by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Co. sheds light on this issue. According to their research, women are significantly less likely to be promoted after expressing interest in leadership roles, even though they aspire to such positions.

This barrier can discourage women from presenting strategic ideas, fearing they won't lead to career advancement.

How to get your ideas heard as a woman.

1. Seek mentorship.

• 65% of women with mentors felt more confident in their ability to succeed, as opposed to those without mentors.

• According to Forbes, 76% of employees believe that mentors are crucial for successful careers, but only 37% of employees get mentorship.

Find a mentor who can advocate for you and provide guidance on navigating corporate politics.

2. Build a strong network.

Cultivate relationships across departments and hierarchies. Try to have an out-of-office meet-up with your colleagues so that they can understand you more humanely. Not just as another employee.

Create a support system that can amplify your ideas in meetings and decision-making processes.

3. Perfect your presentation skills.

Use data and concrete examples to support your proposals. This will help you shut down the biased male colleagues who might be ready to go on to argue and reject your idea.

Hold your ground with hard-core data. Practice delivering your ideas with confidence and authority.

4. Seek regular feedback.

Women reporting that they receive regular feedback on their performance have a better ability to present ideas confidently.

Proactively seek feedback to improve your ideas and presentation style.

5. Document your contributions.

Keep a record of your strategic ideas and their potential impact. It will help you showcase what you have done for the organization.

Track the results when your ideas are implemented, no matter how small.

6. Changing the corporate culture

While individual actions are crucial, systemic change is necessary.

• Advocate for diversity and inclusion initiatives in your organization.
• Push for unconscious bias training, especially for those in leadership positions.
• Encourage transparency in decision-making processes and idea evaluation.

Remember, your strategic voice matters.

Consistently bringing innovative strategies to the table helps you contribute to a more inclusive, profitable, and forward-thinking organization.

Don't let dismissive attitudes hold you back. Keep refining your ideas.

Join our "Strategic Leadership for Women" program and gain the skills, confidence, and network you need to ensure your ideas are not just heard but implemented. In this comprehensive course, you'll learn advanced presentation techniques, strategies for building influence, and methods to overcome gender bias in the workplace.

Don't let another great idea go unheard. Enroll today and start your journey towards becoming the strategic leader your organization needs!